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Manifestations of Majesty

5/11/2014Alan Adams Ephesians 3:13-21

Mention of divine majesty evokes thoughts of His power manifested in His creating the heavens and the earth. Greater still is His majesty manifested in the ugly instrument of human brutality, the Cross, which lead to His majesty manifested in His eternal purpose, the church of Christ.

The Church Is a School

5/11/2014Alan Adams Acts 11, 13

There are many figures and metaphors used to characterize the church of Christ: body, house, building, husbandry, temple and so on. Yet another, though not explicitly so called, is "school." All that makes a school a school is true of the Lord's church. How seriously do we take this role?

How Achor Got Its Name

5/4/2014Alan Adams Isaiah 65:10; Hosea 2:15; Joshua 7

Two preachers, Isaiah and Hosea, who spoke in close proximity to the destruction of Samaria in 722 B.C., made mention of the "valley of Achor." The one said that the valley would one day be a place for herds to lie down, and the other said it would be for a door of hope. Achor means "troubling." It got its name centuries earlier, when Achan and his entire family were stoned to death.

Lads to Leaders' Speakers

Four of Main Street's young brothers, who spoke well at the recent 2014 Lads to Leaders convention in Nashville, delivered their sermons before the Main Street assembly. Each based his thoughts on Isaiah's immortal words, "here am I, send me."

Church Preservation

4/27/2014Alan Adams Deuteronomy 6

The Book of Deuteronomy is largely four addresses made by Moses to the second generation of the "church in the wilderness." Chapter six is part of the first address, in which Moses sets forth the impeccable plan by which the Old Testament "church" could both proliferate and preserve herself with each passing generation. The same plan should be followed by the church today, as she faces the challenge of growth and preservation.

Graduating from Gain to Loss

4/27/2014Alan Adams Philippians 3:7,8

Things which Paul had once considered as "gain," he came to see to as "loss." These gain/loss things referred to his relative greatness as a faithful Jew under the Law of Moses. Now, though, he said, with the goal being "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord," those things were at best encumbrances, and at worst rubbish. Powerful applications leap from these inspired words as Christians pursue the same goal. The Law of Moses is long since abrogated, but the need for Christians to count some things as loss in the pursuit of the only meaningful goal is still with us.

Here, I'll Do It

4/20/2014Alan Adams Isaiah 6

Judah's state in the world, during the days of Isaiah, were tenuous at best. The "year that king Uzziah died" just made matters worse. The prophet was strengthened by a vision, which allowed him to see that kings come and go, but God is ever on His throne. A job needed to be done, and when the call from the throne of Heaven went forth, Isaiah unhesitatingly said, "Here am I, send me." It was, though, a tough and dirty job. To get to the good: the continuity of the "holy seed," the nation must pass through the bad. What a preacher; what a man; Isaiah.

Defender's Shrine

4/20/2014Alan Adams 1 Peter 3:14-15

Inspiration says, that when the world confronts Christians as to "the reason of the hope," they must be prepared to "give answer." To answer, though requires that the defender of the faith, first, enshrine in his heart "Christ as Lord."

Thread Salvation

4/13/2014Alan Adams Joshua 2:18, 21

We exult at the magnificence of God's power in bringing down the walls of Jericho the way He did. As great, though, as was that feat, greater still is the fact that he saved Rahab and her house, though her "house was upon the side of the wall," so that she in essence "dwelt upon the wall." Her salvation, one might say, was hanging by a thread; a scarlet thread, at that.

Healthcare

4/13/2014Alan Adams Proverbs 3:7,8

With all the concern and angst about what is happening to American healthcare and insurance, it is good to reflect on what the Bible has to say about health and healthcare. Politicians obfuscate, while the Bible sheds light. Here's to your health!

Ebenezer

4/6/2014Alan Adams 1 Samuel 1-7

Within the text of this sermon is mention of two memorials: A child named Ichabod, signifying that God's glory had passed from Israel; and a stone called Ebnezer signifying that "hitherto hath Jehovah helped us." It's a story of tragedy and triumph. We may choose our memorial: Ichabod, or Ebenezer.

Church "Doings": The Supper

4/6/2014Alan Adams 1 Corinthians 11

It was "not possible" for the Christians at Corinth "to eat the Lord's Supper," when they came together in the assembly. Ironically, though, that's precisely the reason for churches to assemble together on the first day of every week. The Lord's Supper is to be eaten in the assembly, on the first day of every week, and only on the first day of every week.

Where Were You, When He Saw You?

3/30/2014Alan Adams John 1:43ff

Philip told Nathanel that he had found the Messiah, and that -- as hard as it might be to believe -- He was from Nazareth, and was none other than the son of the carpenter. Nathanel wondered, went with Philip to see, and finally confessed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and King of Israel. The account is full of marvelous lessons.

The Child Who Put Galilee on the Map

3/23/2014Alan Adams Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 4:13-16

Old Testament preacher, Isaiah, linked the promise that Judah would survive divine punishment to a future marvelous work of God: a virgin's conceiving and bearing a son, whom she would name Immanuel. He continues that thought in Isaiah 9, saying, "unto us a child is born." Not only called Immanuel, but also "wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Hundreds of years later, Jesus "withdrew into Galilee," "dwelt in Capernaum," and the Spirit of God said that was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. The child, the only begotten of God, put Galilee on the map. What must the lessons be?

The Sitting Disease

3/23/2014Alan Adams 2 Kings 6-7

Sitting outside the gates of the city of Samaria, which was under siege and dying of famine, four lepers assessed their situation, narrowed their options to only three: go inside the city, where they would die from the famine; sit where they were, and assuredly die; or, go to the camp of the Syrian invaders, where they might die. They concluded, "Why sit we here until we die."

Portraying Jesus, or Taking a Selfie

3/16/2014Alan Adams Matthew 22:41

The latest Hollywood heartthrob has come to fame by portraying Jesus. Profane reviewers have said, "He puts the carnal into the Incarnate." Aside from the blasphemy of it all, is the irony that the actor is 6'3" tall with fine features. What did Jesus of Nazareth, after all, look like? More to the point, what was He like?

The Earthy is Earthy; The Heavenly Heavenly

3/16/2014Alan Adams 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

Paul draws several contrasts between the first and last, first and second, Adam. The contrasts not only have implications regarding the hope we have beyond the grave, but also regarding our present life.

Avoiding a Fretful Life

3/9/2014Alan Adams Psalm 37

Three times in this psalm, Inspiration urges, "Fret not." How precisely does one admonish another not to feel a certain way? An examination of the psalm shows that the admonition is specifically to "the righteous," and in a completely practical way, applicable only to such a person. From the total perspective of Christ and the Gospel, "the righteous" are those whom God has counted to be so; that is, those who have obeyed the Gospel. The psalm is of great value to a Christian trying to live as he ought.

Syncing Devices

3/9/2014Alan Adams 2 Corinthians 6:11

The Digital Age is fertile ground for metaphor and analogy. People can keep all their devices -- smartphone, notebook, tablet, laptop et al -- synced "in the cloud." Our "members" -- hands, feet, eyes -- are devices; our cloud is the place where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Paul had his devices synced: mouth opened, and heart enlarged. Simple observation shows that not a few Christians are unconcerned with heavenly synchronization of their devices.

Limitations of Certitude

3/2/2014Alan Adams Romans 14

There is an arena of "things," about which we may say God is indifferent, such as human diet. The religious and cultural backgrounds of some Christians caused some to be "weak" in their convictions about the propriety of eating certain things, whereas others had no qualms at all. Inspirations says, 1) be fully assured in your own mind; 2) be respectful of the other's conscience; and 3) all things must be subordinate to the higher cause, "the kingdom of God," which is not defined in terms of eating and drinking.

Muddled Clarity of the Kingdom

2/23/2014Alan Adams Matthew 13:10ff

When asked why He taught in parables, Jesus said that He taught in parables so that some people would neither see, hear nor understand Him. Yet, parables are simple analogies based on ordinary things. This set of parables in Matthew 13 are about "the kingdom of heaven." How could simple things obscure the truth about the kingdom of heaven?

The Lord's "Judgmental" Servants

2/23/2014Alan Adams Matthew 13:27

In one of a series of Kingdom Parables, The Wheat and the Tares, Jesus speaks of "two" seeds, the good seed sown by the Son of Man, and counterfeit, "tare" seed, sown by the Devil. At some point the servants of the householder could tell the difference. Only one seed makes a Christian, singly; and the church, collectively. The product of counterfeit seed can ultimately be seen for what it is.

One Can Choose His Relatives

2/16/2014Alan Adams Matthew 12; Mark 3; Luke 8

Jesus, on an occasion advised that His mother and brethren were looking for Him, announced that His greater family consisted of those who hear and obey the word of God. Such, He said, are "my brother, sister, and mother." One can, after all, choose his relatives.

Waiting My Whole Life

2/16/2014Alan Adams Romans 8:23

Talking to her Bible class teacher about Heaven, a little, and lovely, young lady remarked, "I've been waiting to go there my whole life." How profound. Paul, by the Spirit, said we spend our lives "waiting for our adoption, the redemption of our body."

It's Right; It's True; We Can't; We Won't

2/9/2014Alan Adams Numbers 13,14

The fledgling nation of Israel provoked God ten times; the final straw was the report and conclusion set forth by ten of twelve men sent on a reconnaissance mission into the land God had promised to Abraham so long ago. Admitting that the land was everything God had said it was, the evil spies nonetheless said it can't be done. They then set about to foment a rebellion and a coup against Moses and Aaron with the intentions of taking the people back to the land of bondage, Egypt. The story is replete with spiritual applications.

My Right

2/9/2014Alan Adams 1 Corinthians 9

Several times, the apostle Paul spoke of "my right." Christians, of course, have no right to sin, or otherwise disobey God. Yet, even within the sphere of those things which we have a right to do, or not do, one's personal right must be subordinate to the greater cause characterized by Paul as becoming "all things to all men, that I may by all means save some." It is specifically in this context that Paul speaks of buffeting and bringing his body into bondage. Foregoing one's rights requires great discipline.

Necessary Ovine Scent

2/2/2014Alan Adams Genesis 31:38-40

To hear Jacob tell it, he spent twenty long, hard and sleepless years tending to his father-in-law's flocks. He no doubt bore a distinctive odor; he smelled like sheep. It pleases God that local churches be overseen by a plurality of men variously called, elders, overseers and pastors. As pastors, shepherds, these men, to do their job, must also smell like sheep. They must be out, about and among the flock over the which the Spirit has given them oversight.

The Pleasantness of Oil and Dew

2/2/2014Alan Adams Psalm 133

To capture and convey the "pleasantness" of fraternal, familial, unity, the Spirit says it is like oil, which dripped from Aaron's beard, and like the dew on Mount Hermon. Even without looking into the significance of Aaron and Mount Hermon, with their respective oil and dew, the images make us smile. The sermon focuses on the the analogs and their meaning, but more particularly on the pleasantness of the unity of brethren, and how it can be achieved.